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The Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway System (GLS), part of the U.S. Department of Transportation, will be housed in a newly designed facility consisting of an 11,000 sq. ft. administration building and a 2,100sq. ft maintenance garage near the recently opened Visitor’s Center. This building serves as a symbolic gateway to the Eisenhower Locks and sets the stage for the development of a future campus. Tasked with unifying the distinct administrative divisions of the GLS, the building is designed to enhance cross-departmental collaboration while preserving each division's unique identity. A key design element of the building is the development of "pods" that house each division. Each pod consists of individual offices and collaborative workspaces that allow each division to maintain its distinct identity and privacy. To foster interaction and communication between divisions, the pods are connected by a single corridor that runs the entire length of the building. At the center of the building, a shared conference room and a double-height lobby serve as a central hub for collaboration and welcoming visitors.

Beyond its functional goals, the building is envisioned as a landmark structure that will enhance the public perception of the Eisenhower Locks. Its design will help establish an architectural language for future construction projects and building upgrades. To meet the requirements of the Guiding Principles Guiding Principles for Sustainable Federal Buildings, the structure is oriented with its smaller width running North to South to maximize exposure to the southern sun during colder months. This orientation optimizes natural heating, while the east-west orientation minimizes heat losses due to wind. To maximize daylight, each office is equipped with windows. The windows on the north side provide workers with views of the Visitor’s Center and the Eisenhower Lock, strengthening the connection between the facility and its surroundings. Clerestories were introduced in the corridor to improve daylight penetration at the center of the building, and the building’s overall performance. With sustainability as the main driver, all materials used in the project meet sustainable guidelines or contribute to improving the building's performance.

This project was done in collaboration with WSP and Jade Stone Engineering.